apprehend

  • 1Apprehend — Ap pre*hend ([a^]p pr[ e]*h[e^]nd ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Apprehended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Apprehending}.] [L. apprehendere; ad + prehendere to lay hold of, seize; prae before + hendere (used only in comp.); akin to Gr. chanda nein to hold, contain …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2apprehend — 1 *arrest, detain, attach Analogous words: seize, *take: capture, *catch Contrasted words: release, discharge, liberate, *free 2 Apprehend, comprehend mean to lay hold of something with the mind so as to know it but together …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 3apprehend — apprehend, comprehend In the meanings in which they overlap, these two words denote slightly different aspects of understanding. Apprehend means to grasp or perceive a general idea or concept, whereas comprehend means to understand an argument or …

    Modern English usage

  • 4Apprehend — Ap pre*hend , v. i. 1. To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose. [1913 Webster] 2. To be apprehensive; to fear. [1913 Webster] It is worse to apprehend than to suffer. Rowe. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5apprehend — ap·pre·hend /ˌa prə hend/ vt [Latin apprehendere to seize, arrest, from ad to + prehendere to seize]: arrest Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …

    Law dictionary

  • 6apprehend — [v1] catch and arrest bag*, bust*, capture, collar, cop*, grab, nab, nail*, place under arrest, run in, seize, take in, take into custody, take prisoner; concepts 90,191,317 Ant. lose, not catch apprehend [v2] understand absorb, accept,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7apprehend — (v.) mid 14c., to grasp in the senses or mind, from O.Fr. aprendre (12c.) teach; learn; take, grasp; acquire, or directly from L. apprehendere to take hold of, grasp, from ad to + prehendere to seize (see PREHENSILE (Cf. prehensile)). Metaphoric… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 8apprehend — ► VERB 1) intercept in the course of unlawful or wrongful action. 2) seize or arrest. 3) understand; perceive. 4) archaic anticipate with fear or unease. ORIGIN Latin apprehendere, from prehendere lay hold of …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9apprehend — [ap΄rē hend′, ap΄rihend′] vt. [ME apprehenden < LL apprehendere, to understand < L, to take hold of < ad , to + prehendere: see PREHENSILE] 1. to take into custody; capture or arrest 2. to take hold of mentally; perceive; understand 3.… …

    English World dictionary

  • 10apprehend — ap|pre|hend [ˌæprıˈhend] v [T] [Date: 1300 1400; : Latin; Origin: apprehendere to take hold of , from ad to + prehendere to seize ] 1.) formal if the police apprehend a criminal, they catch him or her = ↑arrest ▪ The police have failed to… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English